Patent GB-133332-A (GB)
IPC: B64C17/00
Abstract: 133,332. Macy, A. J. July 23, 1917. Balancing. - Relates to aeroplanes and other aircraft of the kind provided with mechanism to maintain the machine longitudinally in a predetermined attitude relative to the earth, and also with mechanism to maintain a safe angle of incidence when strong vertical gusts are encountered, the two mechanisms being adapted, independently of each other or jointly with each other, to open and close an electrical circuit, including a pivoted contact board carrying gravity-acting means to maintain, under all conditions, the proper attitude of the machine in flight. The spring-returned hand-lever 4, Fig. 2, controlling the elevating-vane is connected through a switch mechanism 67 with a rack-bar 43 which is operated by a motor 65 when the machine departs from its predetermined attitude, through the agency of a pendulum device and magnetic clutches. Pendulum device. The pendulum device is carried by a frame 7, Fig 7, pivoted to a bar 9 mounted friction-tight on a pivot A transverse to the machine, so that the frame may be adjusted manually into different angular positions with respect to the longitudinal axis of the machine. Mounted on the frame is an insulation board 11 provided with contacts 12, 13, 14, a pendulum 15 being mounted on the contact 14. Rigidly secured to the sides of the frame are solenoids 18, 19 the armatures 20, 21 of which are linked to the board 11. The armatures are provided with rods 22, 23 which extend through the sides of the frame and are adapted, when the solenoids are energized, to contact with resilient terminals 26. 27 mounted on the frame. One terminal of each solenoid is grounded both on its armature and also on the frame of the machine, and the other terminals are connected respectively to wires 24, 25. Servo-motor. The motor 65 drives a shaft 63. Fig. 16, provided with a worm 64 engaging wormwheels 55, 56. The worm-wheels carry magnetic clutches which, when energized, attract magnetic plates 53, 54 attached to pinions 51, 52, and thus cause the rack 43 to be operated through pinions 48, 47 mounted on an idler shaft 46. Switch mechanism. The switch mechanism 67, Fig. 19, is provided with two sets of contacts 68, 69, 70 and 71, 72, 73, between each of which moves a switch bar 44 provided with brushes 74, 75. The switch bar 44 is connected to the rack 43 and to the hand-lever 4. Wind-vane. To maintain the machine at a safe angle of incidence when vertical gusts are encountered, a small plane 34 is mounted between the main planes at one side of the body 1. The pivot shaft 35 of the plane is journaled in brackets 36 on a frame rod 37, and is provided with a switch arm 41, adapted, when the plane is operated, to contact one of two contacts on a quadrant-shaped switch base 38 secured on the rod 37. Operation. If the machine is tilted longitudinally, for instance by flying into a very gradually ascending or descending air current, the frame 7 moves with the machine, and the pendulum 15 contacts one of the terminals 12, 13. Assuming the contact 12 is engaged, a current is set up from a battery 79, Fig. 3, through wire 31, pendulum 15, contact 12, wire 32, contact 69, brush 74, contact 70, wire 77, magnetic clutch 58, and thence by ground to the battery. The energizing of the clutch causes the rack-bar 43, and hence the elevating-vane, to be operated, to restore the machine to its predetermined attitude. Should the machine be struck by a gust, the plane 34 is tilted, and the switch arm 41 engages one or other of the contacts in the switch base 38. Assuming the contact 40, Fig. 3, is engaged, a circuit is established from the battery 79 through the wire 25 and solenoid 19 to ground. The energizing of the solenoid 19 tilts the board 11 so that the pendulum 15 engages the contact 13 and a circuit is set up through the contact 71, brush 75, and contact 73, to the magnetic clutch 57. The elevating-vane is therefore operated. The energizing of the solenoid 19 brings the armature rod 23 into contact with the terminal 27, so that should the brush 75 be moved far enough to disengage the contact 71 and engage the contact 72, a circuit is set up from the battery 79, through the solenoid 19, armature 21, rod 23, contact 27, wire 30, contact 72, brush 75, and contact 73, to the magnetic clutch 57, and the operation of the elevating- vane is continued. Specification 133,331 is referred to.